Introducing: Tom Parker, Cambre Associates

Nearly a decade ago, Tom joined the chamber and since then he has been able to witness the growing transformations it has gone through. For more information on the Council nominations process and timeline, please follow this link. If you’re interested but want to know more about being a Council member, or standing for President, contact Glenn for an informal discussion. Nomination forms must be filled in and sent to glenn@britishchamber.be by 24 April 2015.

I first became involved with the chamber 8 years ago as a regular member and quickly realised that this was an organisation that the more you put in the more you get out. I primarily came to the chamber to meet people, to build my network in Brussels and to share information among my peers. However I began to see the impact the chamber could have on Cambre Associates and also the value it could add to my team. The chamber offers a great platform inside the EU Affairs sector and it allows you to be in the right place at the right time, whether that’s with identifying critical speakers or the highly topical discussions and the debates they hold.

The chamber has changed tremendously since I first came here and has grown and matured beyond belief. It used to be based in a shared basement in a business centre in Montgomery, with a small team and none of the vibrancy it has today. Today the chamber’s membership is reflective of the international business community here in Brussels and from this the chamber can accommodate a range of interests. It has a brilliant EU Committee, with more task forces and activities to satisfy its members. It also has a great Business in Belgium committee which has become very active since I first started and is going from strength to strength. The chamber is a great place also to gain visibility for my company and profile ourselves in the EU Affairs market, in which the chamber is an important and active player.

A highlight from my time at the chamber has to be when Ken Clarke came to the chamber to discuss data protection. This was a really good moment for me; not only was this a highly topical event, but it showcased the chamber as the place to be to engage and hear from key UK politicians.

Being part of the Council acts for both short term and long term purposes. In the short term, being a member of the Council, you ensure that the chamber offers a programme which is in keeping with what members expect and would value. In the longer term, the Council is there to reflect on ideas which are proposed to help the chamber evolve as an organisation. The bredth of experience in the Council is particularly significant for the chamber as we know just what the chamber needs to achieve and how to achieve it.